The Lord has stated that it is his will that "my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them." That's in the 98th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, Verse 4. It sounds reasonable enough according to my understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But I am becoming increasingly convinced that there at least 2 commandments that Latter-day Saints may now not be expected to obey.
The first of these generally overlooked commandments is that to "befriend that law which is the constitutional law of the land." as given in D&C 98:6. The second is that given in Ether 8:24, to "awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you." And BTW note that in the preceding verse we are told to "suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain."
For several years or more now I have noticed a near total absence of admonition and discussion on these commandments in church, both of which appear to have been given to help protect our right to life, liberty, and property. To the degree that we lose these rights, to that same degree we lose free agency. So I am dismayed that these 2 commandments seem to be "soggetto non grato" in church meetings. And in trying to figure out why they command so little attention among the general membership of the Church, I have come up with the following possible reasons:
1.) We are heavily involved in other church work from which these issues would detract,
2.) This freedom battle is so controversial that we might be accused of engaging in politics and draw persecution on the Church,
3.) The Lord will protect our freedoms if we just comply with the commandments more frequently addressed in church meetings,
4.) The world is so corrupt now and heading toward destruction at such a pace that it is too late to stop it, and to try would be a waste of effort,
5.) Attention to these commandments might split the Church asunder,
6.) We can have confidence that those church members elected to the US Congress, state legislatures, and other government offices are dedicated to the principles of the US Constitution , and are anxiously and successfully engaged in their preservation,
7.) When the time comes for the elders of Israel to step forth and help save the Constitution and restore its principles to government, as has been prophesied, they (we) will receive adequate instruction from the Prophet.
My life would be much simpler if I could ignore these 2 commandments. Why should I obey them when my doing so makes many other people uncomfortable, and some even angry?
I think herein lies the answer to the question Why should I obey the above referenced commandments.
In studying the words of the Lord in certain Holy Scriptures and in statements by His prophets and apostles about the Constitution of the United States and the responsibility of Latter-day Saints have to study it and work to preserve it, my attention was directed to 4 basic things about it that stood out:
First, the Lord Himself has stated unequivocally that He is the Constitutions Author.
Second, almost every prophet in this dispensation has emphasized the vital importance of defending, upholding and adhering to the Constitution.
Third, several prophets have warned that we have apostatized in various ways from the Constitution,
And fourth, the Constitutions role goes beyond providing a free nation in which the gospel and true Church could be restored to the earth once again. This I found it to be especially intriguing and very significant. It is very apparent to me that the Constitutions role goes beyond providing a free nation in which the gospel and true Church could be restored to the earth once again. The Constitution will become the governing system for the whole world during the Millennium. The principles of that great charter will eventually spread over the whole world, and all who are living at that time will abide by them.
In April 1966, Elder Marion G. Romney delivered a talk in the General Priesthood meeting. In his opening remarks, he stated: "This is the first time I have ever attempted to give a talk a second time. My excuse is that the Brethren have asked me to give this talk here tonight." He had originally delivered it at Brigham Young University. President David O. McKay asked him to deliver the same message in the priesthood meeting. Towards the end of his talk, Elder Romney focused on the vital importance the Constitution has in relation to the redemption of Zion. He testified: "When Zion is redeemed, as it most certainly shall be, it will be redeemed under a government and by a people strictly observing those "just and holy principles" of the Constitution that accord to men their God-given moral agency, including the right to private property."
And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. (August 6, 1833, Doctrine and Covenants 98:5)
[The] laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be establishedshould be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh. (December 16, 1833, Doctrine and Covenants 101:77)
Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever. (March 27, 1836, Doctrine and Covenants 109:54, Dedicatory Prayer of the Kirtland Temple)
[T]he Elders of Israelhave something to do with the world politically as well as religiously, that it is as much their duty to study correct political principles as well as religiousto know and comprehend the social and political interests of man, and to learn and be able to teach that which would be best calculated to promote the interests of the world. (John Taylor, April 13, 1862, Journal of Discourses, 9:340)
"I want my young brethren and sisters to feel that the institutions founded and established in America are Godgiven; the constitution of the United States is a revelation from the Lord, for all the earth, and not only for America; and that the Lord has committed unto this land the mission of lifting up an ensign to the nations of the earth." (Melvin J. Ballard, April 1917, General Conference)
"[The] Lord established the Constitution of the United States for the blessing of all flesh. In my soul I believe that that is part of the great Kingdom of God, the political part, for Jesus was to come as "King of kings and Lord of lords." In the capacity of King of kings he rules in a political way, and as Lord of lords in a spiritual way......for Gods word shall not fail when he predicted that the instrument known as the Constitution of the United States, the Spirit of Liberty established here by a few weak colonists, was his order of things for the government of men, and it should roll forth to fill the whole earth." (Melvin J. Ballard, October 1918, General Conference)
This is a great and glorious nation, with a God-given, divine mission to perform for liberty-loving people everywhere. This mission cannot be performed unless America is kept strong and virile, unless this people adhere to those eternal principles embodied in the gospel and in the Constitution of our land. (Ezra Taft Benson, April 1953, General Conference)
It is a part of my religious belief that America is a land choice above all others, that we are not just another of the family of nations, but that we have been singled out to perform a divine mission for liberty-loving people everywhere. We have a divine dutyeven a destinyto preserve that Constitution from destruction and hold it aloft to the world. (Ezra Taft Benson, July 4, 1972, Boston, Massachusetts; from an address given at the New England Rally for God, Family, and Country honor banquet)
I doubt not that we shall have days of trial.... But I am certain that if we willlift our sights to what may be done to build strength and goodness in our nation, America will continue to go forward with the blessing of the Almighty and stand as an ensign of strength and peace and generosity to all the world. (Gordon B. Hinkley, October 29, 1974, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year)
In 2007 I had the privilege of reviewing each chapter as they were written and compiled, of the book A Glorious Sstandard For All Mankind by Christopher S. Bentley, and providing editorial suggestions and advice, and verifying at the Church History Library a few of the quotations used in the book. What I have written and compiled here reflects and benefits from that work.
And this just leads to another question: Is there any reason for ignoring these commandments, as it seems most LDSs are doing, other than the Church is not pounding the pulpit on these subjects?
We can't stand to watch BYU TV anymore. It's a waste of time. When was the last time you heard a living prophet of God say in General Conference that mothers should stay at home?
We are moving to the end quickly.
Egypt is just a precursor of things to come.
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no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing... the truth of God will go forth till it has penetrated every website, sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done
Your mention of BYU TV reminds me of the complaints I have read on another forum about BYU hosting as speakers to the student body VP Dick Cheney, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Brent Scowcroft, James Schlesinger, General Petreaus, and more recently Condie Rice -- all notable globalists.
I think that in many cases people aren't ready to hear stuff. But just because the church isn't saying it anymore doesn't mean that the commandment has expired.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
"Confirming our telephone conversation I think the Church is cautious about openly participating in freedom promotion activities partly because of concern about government retribution that might unduly hinder its primary religious mission and partly because so many members have been indoctrinated to favor federal dominance and federal welfare and regulation that there is concern that a strong constitutional position might split the Church." (The late Jerome Horowitz, author of THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL AND THE CONSTITUTION and THE GOSPEL KEY TO OUR TRUE CONSTITUTION, in a reply to me several years ago. The first book was recommended by Elder Ezra Taft Benson during the April 1972 General Conference.)
